Leadership Programs

Employers seek people who can establish goals, marshal the resources necessary to complete tasks, work well in a team and see projects through to completion. Don't just show them what you know; show them what you can do with that knowledge. The University of Kentucky and the Gatton College of Business and Economics are pleased to offer the following Leadership Programs:

Gatton Ambassadors

If you want to make a lasting impact on the College, consider applying to become a Gatton Ambassador. Gatton Ambassadors are the face of the College. They take leading roles in helping recruit students to Gatton, meet with important guests and alumni, work with the College administration, faculty and staff on policy issues, plan fun activities, and engage in many fundraising and charity events.

Being a Gatton Ambassador is a point of distinction. It gives you the opportunity to work closely with a small group of high achieving students dedicated to making Gatton a great place to learn and grow. Our Ambassadors develop life-long friendships, gain important career skills, and get to know faculty, administrators and staff in a way few students ever do. Ambassadors make a difference. They go on to do great things and continue to be the best representatives of the College even long after they have graduated. Many Ambassadors return to the College after graduation to speak to students about their experiences.

Qualifications and Application

Strong applicants are well-rounded students who excel academically while being actively involved in the life of the college. Ambassadors are leaders among leaders and must also work well in a team environment. Dependable, reliable students with excellent time management skills are encouraged to apply.

Graham Peer Advisors

The Graham Peer Advisor (GPA) program is a leadership program for current Gatton students who are interested in promoting the mission of the Graham Office of Career Management while actively assisting students with their career aspirations and life-long learning goals. The purpose of the Graham Peer Advisor program is to provide career exploration, career advising, and career development assistance to students on a peer-to-peer level. Graham Peer Advisors are trained to present on a variety of career development topics, to assist with student outreach, and to promote the importance of early and continuous career planning and preparation.

UK 101 Peer Instructors

Information and Application

Business sections of UK 101, the academic orientation course for freshmen, will be offered during the first eleven and a half weeks of the fall semester. The primary purpose of the class is to improve student performance and retention at the University of Kentucky. Specific goals of UK 101 include helping students to understand the nature of a college education, acquire skills for achieving academic success, increase awareness and use of University resources, and experience small group interaction with their peers, a faculty member, and an upper-class peer instructor.

UK 101 is a graded, one-credit hour course. Each class is taught by a Gatton faculty or staff member, who is assisted by an upper-class business student. These sections are restricted to business majors only.

UK 101 class topics include:

Study Strategies

Time Management

Test Taking Skills

Library Skills

Career Exploration

Gatton requirements

Academic Advising & registration

Academic Integrity

Appreciating Diversity

Relationship Violence

Professor Expectations

Getting Involved

Alcohol Awareness

Gatton Majors

Peer Instructors are an essential component of the orientation course. Responsibilities include attending training meetings, assisting the faculty instructor and guest presenters with facilitating and teaching class sessions, and interacting with the students during class and out-of-class activities.

If you are interested in applying for a UK 101 Peer Instructor position, please complete the online application. The following will be considered in the Peer Instructor selection process: business student, GPA (3.0 or higher preferred), demonstrated college leadership, and class time availability. Applicants who have taken UK 101 will be given priority. All applicants will be notified about the positions by mid-April.

The program hosts a variety of workshops, activities, and outreach initiatives throughout the year as well as host the one day leadership conference, the L.E.A.D. Summit, in the spring semester. Interested students can apply to be a peer facilitator in the spring for the following academic year.